I wouldn't say Piccinini was disappointing...at least, not more than the whole Italian team, and remember she was injured in the beginning of the tournament.

For me the biggest disappointment was Foluke Akinradewo, after winning MVP in Grand Prix she could show only 50% of that performance in WCH...

I agree. Piccinini wasn't even a good shape, but she played her best. I'd say C.Staelens was a big disappointment. I know that she had been injuried for a long time with her knee, but she should have played better, and she was supposed to help Manon. (I'm not offending at all) also, Akinradewo was disappointing as Matthias said.

I wouldn't say Piccinini was disappointing...at least, not more than the whole Italian team, and remember she was injured in the beginning of the tournament.

For me the biggest disappointment was Foluke Akinradewo, after winning MVP in Grand Prix she could show only 50% of that performance in WCH...

News from the USA gym is that three USA starters had injuries in the WCH: Glass (ankle injury -- could not move well), Akinradewo (ankle -- jumping was limited) and Tom (right shoulder muscle -- could not hit).

i really enjyed usa team and players, but i think that this time russia was a bit over all teams using their experience on crucial points.but i'd say tha the oposite of usa is a verry strong player she is doing much better then haneef and usa is gona be a strong team for olympics.about russia i don't know when they will like in london, but it's gona ba tough without kilic and gamova, cause gamova is a leader on offensif part and sokolova is a key on the construction of russian game.i am so happy to see russian victory, players like gamova and sokolova really deserve that, they've been on top of women volleyball players since 98, russia at that time always felt down in front of cuba and then china in olympic games.about chossing best playerss i'd say:mvp: GAMOVAbest libero: SYKORAbest setter: TAKESHITAbut i would give a special gift to LIOUBOV SOOKOLOVA KIILC AS the best women volleyball player of the last decade;she really showed with her personality and abilities and verstaility what a strong and modern player should look like.

News from the USA gym is that three USA starters had injuries in the WCH: Glass (ankle injury -- could not move well), Akinradewo (ankle -- jumping was limited) and Tom (right shoulder muscle -- could not hit).

What are the rules regarding playing for the Russian NT and Russian citizenship? On FIVB.org it said that Kosheleva was in fact born in Belarus to a Russian father (does Russia have dual-citizenship?), Goncharova is from the Ukraine, and I can't remember where but I believe someone mentioned that Perepelkina was not born in Russia either.